Science, Policy and Development in Africa: Challenges and Prospects

Description

Since gaining political independence in the 1950s, science has rapidly become a prerequisite for national development within many African nations. Supported by international agencies, such as UNESCO, initiatives were taken to direct Africa on the road of scientific development, enabling contributions to world science and significant progress in many specific research areas. However, from a developmental perspective there remains the question of how science influences national development plans and strategies. How far are science policies integrated into the national development plans? What potential and challenges do science and technology pose for Africa and its prospects for wider development? Offering a comprehensive historical and empirical study of science in both colonial and post-colonial Africa, R. Sooryamoorthy brings to light the connections between science, policy and development in African nations. Focusing on understanding the widening gap in science and technology between developed and developing regions, and the integration (or lack of) with national development strategies, this study provides important insights into the potential opportunities and challenges facing Africa in the areas of science.

R. Sooryamoorthy is Professor of Sociology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A scientist accredited to the National Research Foundation, he is the co-author of Science in Participatory Development (with Mathew Zachariah, 1994) and author of Transforming Science in South Africa (2015) and Networks of Communication in South Africa (2017).

'Sooryamoorthy's style is fluid and engaging. He has mastered the art of translating high-end technological advances into an accessible and meaningful narrative, providing a broad sweep covering the production of scientific knowledge and its relationship to the development, economic growth and sovereignty of the African continent. A great read.' Ruth Teer-Tomaselli, University of KwaZulu-Natal 'This is an excellent reference survey on the development and current state of scientific research and education in Africa ... Because of Sooryamoorthy's focus on quantitative rather than qualitative research, this study may also be more accessible to sociologists and others in quantitative research fields.' J. M. Rich, Choice 'With this publication, Sooryamoorthy has made a valuable new technical and reference contribution to the study of science and development in Africa ...This book suggests a number of practical policy strategies to improve scientific contributions to development in Africa and identifies the main constraints and obstacles that need to be overcome in order to achieve this goal.' Fanie Cloete, South African Journal of Science 'Sooryamoorthy's prose is clear and his research is thorough and well integrated into his argument ... this work is valuable to development experts and upper-level students in the fields of international studies, political science, sociology, anthropology, and the history of science.' Cathy Skidmore-Hess, Journal of Global South Studies